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2016 Oscars Start Time: Watch Academy Awards Live Online, Red Carpet Arrivals, Backstage Interviews With Oscar Nominees

By Cheryl Phillips
Published on: 04:15 PST, Feb 28, 2016

The Oscars are a big night for movie buffs and fashion-obsessed fans. Live coverage of the 2016 Academy Awards starts with the red carpet arrivals, interviews with nominees, and then moves on to the awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Here’s everything you need to know before the big event starts, including start time, live stream links, mobile apps, a list of nominees and presenters, and must-see Oscars video previews. If that’s not enough, learn more about the new Oscars Twitter emoji that will go live on Sunday.

Chill the champagne and get your best Oscars outfit on (pajamas?) — the annual awards show, hosted by Chris Rock, will air live on your local ABC TV channel on Sunday, February 27. The star-studded red carpet event will also stream live online on several entertainment networks including People, E! and Entertainment Weekly. Free Oscars mobile apps will also give viewers a virtual front row seat at the red carpet, as well as a peek backstage.

What time do the Oscars start? The 88th Academy Awards starts at 8:30 p.m. ET, but don’t miss the red carpet coverage — it’s just as exciting as the awards show, especially if you enjoy critiquing celeb fashion while you watch the show in your pajamas. Find free live stream links below, not only from ABC, but other networks who are covering Sunday’s big event.

Who are the 2016 Oscars presenters? Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Garner, Ryan Gosling, Kevin Hart, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon are just a few of the celebrities who will be up on stage presenting awards on Sunday night. See the full (and constantly growing) list on the official Oscars website.

Get social during the Oscars! Even if you’re at home on your couch watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night, you can interact with other movie fans on Twitter. Use the hashtag #Oscars when you tweet to unlock a special statue emoji, and don’t forget to follow the the Academy on Twitter for photos and videos of your favorite celebs.

How can you watch the red carpet arrivals on TV or online? ABC’s coverage of the red carpet arrivals starts at 7 p.m. ET. on your local ABC TV channel or online on ABCgo.com, but there are other pre-show options available. People and Entertainment Weekly are teaming up for an Oscars red carpet pre-show starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, and E! Online will start their red carpet live stream at 5:30 p.m. ET.

In addition to the red carpet event, check out the Oscars Backstage feature during both the red carpet arrivals and the awards show for a unique look at what’s going on behind the scenes.

Is it free to watch the 2016 Academy Awards live streaming online? ABC will be live streaming the Oscars on ABCgo.com or on their mobile app, WatchABC. Although the live digital stream coverage is free, you will have to sign into your cable provider and live in one of the following cities to watch online: Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, and San Francisco.

The nominees are the most important part of the night — aside from the red carpet fashion. There are eight movies up for Best Picture, but the top contenders are The Revenant(12 nominations) and Mad Max: Fury Road (10 nominations).

Nominated for Best Actor are Bryan Cranston, Trumbo; Matt Damon, The Martian; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant; Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs; and Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl.

Nominated for Best Actress are Cate Blanchett, Carol; Brie Larson, Room; Jennifer Lawrence, Joy; Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years; Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Head over to Oscars.com for the full list of nominees and movie trailers.

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]

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